DEFENCE INSTRUCTIONS (GENERAL)

DEFENCE INSTRUCTIONS (GENERAL) New instruction 0 PERS 16 28 Operational mental health screening Department of Defence CANBERRA ACT 2600 30 April 2008 Issued with the authority of the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary of the Department of Defence pursuant to section 9A of the Defence Act 1903 for members of the Australian Defence Force. Issued with the authority of the Secretary pursuant to section 20 of the Public Service Act 1999 for Department of Defence Australian Public Service employees. NICK WARNER Secretary A.G. HOUSTON Air Chief Marshal Chief of the Defence Force LIST B ISSUE NO PERS B/6/2008 Single Service filing instructions Sponsor: This instruction should be filed as: Vice Chief of the Defence Force 1. NAVY PERS 31 57 Sponsor contact: 2. ARMY PERS 123 35 Office of the Vice Chief of the Defence Force 3. AIR FORCE PERS 52 10 Review Date: 1 May 2011

DI(G) PERS 16 28 File as: (NAVY PERS 31 57 (ARMY PERS 123 35 (AIR FORCE PERS 52 10 OPERATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING 1 POLICY STATEMENT 1 1. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has a duty of care towards all personnel deploying on operations. As described in the Defence Safety Manual (SAFETYMAN), volume 1, part 1 Occupational Health and Safety Management commanders must take reasonable care for the health and safety of their personnel. Individual ADF members must comply with directions and orders which are intended to ensure their health and safety. Specifically, in accordance with this Instruction, members are to meet this obligation by attending Return to Australia Psychological Screen (RtAPS) and Post Operational Psychological Screen (POPS) appointments as directed. AIM 2 2. The aim of this Instruction is to describe responsibilities for the initiation, conduct, auditing and reporting of operational mental health screening. OPERATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SCREENS 3 3. There are three mental health briefing/screening phases that are required for all ADF members who deploy on an operation deemed by Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS) to warrant mental health briefing/screening: a. Pre-deployment phase. All personnel in receipt of a Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) issued deployment order are to receive a mental health brief through single-service psychology assets, that is designed to enhance their ability to operate effectively in the deployment environment. b. Deployment phase. During this phase RtAPS is to be conducted. This comprises a screening questionnaire and screening interview. RtAPS is to be provided to all Force Assigned personnel and visitors deemed by CJOPS to require one as per their HQJOC deployment order. Personnel are not to redeploy to Australia without undertaking a RtAPS. Where psychology assets have not been deployed within the Area of Operations (AO) RtAPS is to occur within seven days of return to Australia (RTA). Where this cannot occur, the reasons for non-compliance are to be documented in the post operation report. c. Post-deployment phase. In this phase, POPS is to be completed between three to six months following a RtAPS. The POPS comprises a screening questionnaire and interview. COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT 4 4. ADF members must not deploy on operations without having satisfied an outstanding POPS liability. Parent units must ascertain POPS status as part of pre-deployment preparations. The waiver authority for this requirement is Deputy Chief Joint Operations. All waivers are to detail future screening obligations, including any arrangements for subsequent RtAPS and POPS. PERS B/6/2008 30 APR 2008

2 RESPONSIBILITIES 5 5. CJOPS: a. Pre-deployment phase: (1) Ensure that all operations include the details of any requirement for operational mental health screening. (2) Ensure that deployment orders classified no higher than restricted are issued to all appropriate administrative elements, including Defence Support Group (DSG) Personnel Administration Centres, via the Defence Restricted Network, prior to personnel entering the AO. (3) Detail the pre-deployment mental health briefing obligation, where it is deemed to be required, on the member s deployment order. (4) Detail the RtAPS and POPS obligation, where it is deemed to be required, on the member s deployment order. b. Deployment phase: (1) Direct the Commander of a deployed Force Element to conduct an audit of the deployment start date data entry process into the PMKeyS operation log. These audits are to occur no less than three monthly and are to assure compliance with paragraph 9a(1) of this Instruction. (2) Direct that post-operation reports are to include details of compliance with RtAPS requirements relevant to the reporting period. (3) In cases of third country deployments or Minor Overseas Contingents which do not have a Commander Deployed Force Element: (a) (b) ensure that overseas administration staff located in DSG Personnel Administration Centres enter the member s first day within the specified area (WSA) for an operation in the PMKeyS operation log; and make arrangements for RtAPS to be delivered within the AO or within seven days of RTA. 6. Service Chiefs: a. Post-deployment phase: (1) Direct quarterly audit and reports of compliance with the post-operational mental health screening requirements. (2) Ensure there is appropriate remediation for all post-operational mental health screening requirements outstanding for more than eight months. (3) Ensure that personnel with outstanding POPS are not deployed/re-deployed to an AO. (4) For all Army personnel posted to non-service Groups, the Deputy Chief of Army is to identify the responsible Commanding Officers (CO) and write to them advising of any members who have not completed a POPS eight months after receiving a RtAPS.

3 DI(G) PERS 16 28 File as: (NAVY PERS 31 57 (ARMY PERS 123 35 (AIR FORCE PERS 52 10 7. Commander Deployed Force Element: a. Deployment phase: (1) Ensure that the member s first day WSA for an operation is entered into the PMKeyS operation log. This entry is to be made within 24 hours of the member s arrival in an AO. This action, as well as creating accountable records of operational service, creates the subsequent liability for all RtAPS and POPS as specified in the operation order. (2) Ensure that all personnel (including medical, compassionate and early administrative movements from the AO) present for a RtAPS prior to leaving the AO. Where this is not possible ensure that arrangements are in place for personnel to receive a RtAPS within seven days of RTA. This is particularly important for personnel whose battle injuries may preclude administration of the RtAPS within the mandated time frame. 8. Head Defence Health Services Division: a. Post-Deployment phase: (1) Ensure that all members who undertake a separation health examination are checked either on PMKeyS or via a PMKeyS operation log print out provided by the member s administrative support element, to ascertain if they have a current or future liability for a POPS. This liability may exist if the member seeks discharge immediately on return to Australia and the discharge date falls before or within the three to six-month POPS window. (2) Ensure that, where a liability exists, the member s CO is advised in writing, as soon as possible. 9. Single-Service Psychology Assets: a. Deployment phase: (1) Conduct RtAPS on all ADF members who present for a screen. (2) Provide a receipt (annex A) to all members following their screen which records the RtAPS completion date, details the dates for the three to six-month follow-up screen (POPS) window, and provides contact details of psychology support services in Australia able to conduct POPS. (3) Ensure that a copy of the acknowledgement receipt is forwarded to the member s supporting health facility for inclusion in the member s medical record. (4) Enter the RtAPS completion date in the PMKeyS operation log within 72 hours of completing the member s RtAPS. This action creates the liability for a POPS and is a critical event. All effort must be made to ensure that this data entry occurs as directed. (5) Where, as a consequence of the RtAPS screen, the member is assessed as warranting follow-up review, written notification is to be dispatched to the member s parent unit advising of the need for follow-up (annex A). (6) Ensure that a formal report and referral/handover occurs when a member is identified as requiring follow-up review. A Form PS 006 Psychological Report, and/or Form PM 528 Specialist Referral (available on the Defence Web Forms System) is to be raised and forwarded to the appropriate health professional provider delivering support to the member in Australia. PERS B/6/2008 30 APR 2008

4 b. Post-deployment phase: (1) Conduct POPS on all ADF members who present for a screen. (2) Enter the POPS completion date into the PMKeyS operation log, within 72 hours of conducting the POPS. (3) Provide all members with an acknowledgement receipt confirming completion of the POPS. A copy is to be forwarded to the member s supporting health facility to be placed in the member s medical file. (4) Ensure that a formal report and referral/handover occurs when a member is identified as requiring follow-up review. A Form PS 006, and/or Form PM 528 is to be raised and forwarded to the appropriate health provider. (5) Maintain a unit monitoring log containing details of the date and destination of all POPS related referrals. (6) Ascertain that all members with POPS related referrals have attended their appointments and document attendance status in the log. (7) Advise the member s CO and supporting health facility, in writing, of any failure to attend an arranged follow-up review (annex B), or any decision by the member to not participate in the screening process (annex C). 10. Defence Force Psychology Organisation: a. Post-deployment phase: (1) Conduct POPS on all ADF members who present for a screen. (2) Enter the POPS completion date in the PMKeyS operation log, no later than 72 hours following conduct of the POPS. (3) Provide all members with an acknowledgement receipt (annex A) confirming their completion of the POPS. A copy is to be forwarded to the member s supporting health facility to be placed in the member s medical file. (4) Ensure that all members who require follow-up arising from a POPS are referred to an appropriate health provider. (5) Maintain a unit monitoring log containing the date and destination of all POPS related referrals. (6) Ascertain that all members with POPS related referrals have attended their appointments and document attendance status in the log. (7) Advise the member s CO and supporting health facility, in writing, of any failure to attend an arranged follow-up review (annex B), or any decision by the member to not participate in the screening process (annex C). 11. Director, Defence Force Psychology Organisation: a. Post-deployment phase: (1) Conduct a biannual audit of compliance with the requirements of paragraphs 9(b.) and 10(a.). (2) Report the status of RtAPS and POPS to Director-General Personnel Air Force and Director-General Navy Personnel and Training twice yearly in April and October.

5 DI(G) PERS 16 28 File as: (NAVY PERS 31 57 (ARMY PERS 123 35 (AIR FORCE PERS 52 10 12. Commanding Officer 1 Psychology Unit: a. Post-deployment phase: (1) Conduct a biannual audit of compliance with the requirements of paragraph 9(b.). (2) Report the status of POPS Army s RtAPS and POPS liability to Director-General Personnel Army twice yearly in April and October. 13. Army parent Unit/DSG Personnel Administration Centres/Fleet Units/Air Headquarters: a. Pre-deployment phase: (1) Upon receipt of a HQJOC deployment order, the Army parent unit, supporting administrative element, Fleet Unit (or Fleet administrative support unit) or Air Headquarters is to enter the operation details into the PMKeyS operational log. This data entry is to occur within 48 hours of receipt of the deployment order. 14. Single-Service Unit Commanders a. Post-deployment phase: (1) Direct the production of a PMKeyS POPS report no less than quarterly, to ascertain the status of any unit member who may require a POPS. (2) On receipt of advice that a unit member requires follow-up or has not presented for an arranged follow-up appointment, ensure that the member attends a follow-up appointment at the earliest opportunity. (3) Direct attendance at a POPS, for any member who has not completed a POPS within the window of four to eight months following a RtAPS. (4) Ensure that evidence of attendance at a POPS is sighted by the chain of command following directed attendance at a POPS. 15. Designated Commanding Officer for Army members in non-army Groups: a. Post-deployment phase: (1) On receipt of advice that a member requires a POPS, ensure that the member attends a POPS at the earliest practicable opportunity. (2) On receipt of advice that a member requires follow-up or has not presented for an arranged follow-up appointment, ensure that the member attends a follow-up appointment at the earliest opportunity. (3) Ensure that evidence of attendance at a POPS is sighted by the chain of command following directed attendance at a POPS. 16. Individual ADF member: a. Deployment phase: (1) ADF members must attend a RtAPS screening appointment as directed; either in the AO or within seven days following return to Australia. (2) ADF members should participate in RtAPS. Should an ADF member be unwilling to participate in RtAPS, they will be briefed on the consequences which may arise from this decision and must complete a member s statement (annex C) as an acknowledgement that they have received this briefing. PERS B/6/2008 30 APR 2008

6 b. Post deployment phase: (1) After completion of a RtAPS, ADF members must keep the receipt which details the three-month window for a POPS. (2) ADF members must make an appointment for and attend a POPS interview between three and six months following an RtAPS. (3) ADF members must comply with any lawful direction to attend a POPS or a follow-up appointment from a RtAPS or POPS. (4) ADF members should participate in a POPS. Should an ADF member be unwilling to participate in a POPs, they will be briefed on the consequences which may arise from this decision and must complete a member s statement (annex C) as an acknowledgement that they have received this briefing. CONCLUSION 17 17. Operational mental health screening is an important part of the ADF s commitment to the health and welfare of its personnel. This is an integral part of command, and all commanders and individuals are to comply with the requirements detailed in this Instruction. Related publications Defence Instruction (General) (DI(G)) PERS 16 1 Health care of Australian Defence Force personnel DI(G) PERS 16 24 Mental Health Provision in the Australian Defence Force DI(G) PERS 16 20 Privacy of health information in Defence Health Bulletin 11/2003 Mental health support to operationally deployed forces Health Bulletin 9/2003 Australian Defence Force Mental Health Screen Health Directive 222 Health requirements for deployed Australian Defence Force personnel Health Directive 810 Responsibilities of Psychology Personnel involved in the Provision of Deployment-related Psychological Screening (yet to be issued). SAFETYMAN, volume 1, part 1 Occupational Health and Safety Management Annexes: A. Notification of Completion of psychological screen B. Commanding Officer notification of failure to contact member/attend a scheduled psychological screening appointment C. Statement by member declining to participate in the psychological screening process

ANNEX A TO DI(G) PERS 16 28 File as: (NAVY PERS 31 57 (ARMY PERS 123 35 (AIR FORCE PERS 52 10 NOTIFICATION OF COMPLETION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREEN A This confirms that the member has attended their RtAPS/POPS/CMS appointment. MEMBER DETAILS Member to complete this shaded section Service (please circle the appropriate option): ARA GRes RAN RANR RAAF RAAFAR RAAFSR Civilian Other: Personal Details: Surname/Initials Rank PMKeyS No: TG/SHIP on Deployment: Deployment Dates: Start: Finish: The above member participated in psychological screening in relation to: RtAPS RtAPS Short Dep. CMS Initial CMS Follow-Up POPS Special Screen (For Deployment: Name of Operation; For CMS: Date, Time and Location of Event) Outcome: Where relevant, provide a brief statement regarding the outcomes of the screen, including recommendations for referral (when, who to, whether referral actually made), or routine follow-up. Immediate Referral (within 14 days RTA)* Referral within three months CMS Follow-up Routine POPS Routine POPS (with psychologist) Med Referral Signature Printed Name Rank or Title Unit/ Section Date Distribution: Member AR213 Servicing Medical Facility * Parent unit CO (only for notification of non-routine RtAPS follow-up or POPS referral requirement) PERS B/6/2008 30 APRIL 2008

ANNEX B TO DI(G) PERS 16 28 File as: (NAVY PERS 31 57 (ARMY PERS 123 35 (AIR FORCE PERS 52 10 COMMANDING OFFICER NOTIFICATION OF FAILURE TO CONTACT MEMBER/ATTEND A SCHEDULED PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING APPOINTMENT This is to inform you that the member whose details appear below [was unable to be contacted]/ [failed to report] for a psychological screen or follow-up review. This information is being reported to you in accordance with the requirements of Defence Instruction (General) PERS 16 24 Mental Health Provision in the Australian Defence Force. Member Details Name and Rank:... Current Unit/Ship:... Telephone number attempted:... Email address attempted:... Date/time of attempted contact/scheduled appointment: B...... Additional Information (if required): Signature Printed Name Rank or Title Unit/Section Date Distribution: AR213 Servicing Medical Facility CO PERS B/6/2008 30 APRIL 2008

ANNEX C TO DI(G) PERS 16 28 File as: (NAVY PERS 31 57 (ARMY PERS 123 35 (AIR FORCE PERS 52 10 STATEMENT BY MEMBER DECLINING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING PROCESS C I,... NAME/RANK... of... SHIP/ UNIT... have been orally briefed by... NAME/RANK... on... DATE regarding the Psychological Screening process. I am aware of the potential benefits for me should I agree to participate in the screening process, and of the potential consequences for me should I decline to participate in the process. I have also been made aware of the limits of confidentiality that apply to the screening process. Having considered this information, I hereby decline to participate in psychological screening. Member Signature Date Additional Information (if required): Signature Printed Name Rank or Title Unit/Section Date Distribution: AR213 Servicing Medical Facility CO PERS B/6/2008 30 APRIL 2008